Methods useful for controlling fluid loss in subterranean formations

Abstract

Methods of controlling fluid loss in a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a fluid loss control additive comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydrophobic or hydrophilic modification; introducing the treatment fluid into an interval of a well bore, the well bore penetrating the subterranean formation; creating one or more perforations in the interval of the well bore, wherein the perforations extend from the well bore and into the subterranean formation; and allowing the treatment fluid to contact a portion of the subterranean formation through the one or more perforations. Methods of a reducing fluid loss from a perforated and/or gravel packed interval of a well bore using a fluid loss control additive comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydrophobic or hydrophilic modification.

1. A method of controlling fluid loss in a subterranean formation comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a fluid loss control additive comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydrophobic modification, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises a polymer backbone that comprises polar heteroatoms, and wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises at least one hydrophobically modified polymer that comprises 
 a reaction product between a hydrophobic compound and a hydrophilic polymer wherein the hydrophobic compound is selected from the group consisting of: an anhydride of octenyl succinic acid; an ester of octenyl succinic acid, an amide of octenyl succinic acid, an anhydride of dodecenyl succinic acid, an ester of dodecenyl succinic acid, and an amide of dodecenyl succinic acid and wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises a reactive amino group in the polymer backbone or as a pendant group, the reactive amino group capable of reacting with the hydrophobic compound; and 
 introducing the treatment fluid into an interval of a well bore penetrating the subterranean formation wherein the water-soluble polymer reduces the permeability of the portion of the subterranean formation to aqueous fluids without substantially reducing the permeability to hydrocarbons so that fluid loss from the aqueous fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation is reduced; 
 creating one or more perforations in the interval of the well bore, wherein the perforations extend from the well bore and into the subterranean formation; and 
 allowing the treatment fluid to contact a portion of the subterranean formation through the one or more perforations. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein pressure in the interval of the well is overbalanced, underbalanced, or balanced. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein pressure in the interval of the well bore is overbalanced, and the treatment fluid contacts the subterranean formation so as to create one or more fractures therein. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the treatment fluid is introduced into the interval of the well bore at a pressure sufficient to at least substantially displace formation fluid from the well bore, the formation fluid having entered the well bore through the one or more perforations. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of introducing the treatment fluid into the interval of the well bore occurs after the step of creating the one or more perforations. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of creating one or more perforations utilizes a perforating gun, a laser perforating device, a chemical perforating device, or a hydraulic jetting device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of creating the one or more perforations creates a dynamic underbalance in the interval of the well bore. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 introducing an oxidizer into the interval of the well bore so as to contact the portion of the subterranean formation, subsequent to the step of allowing the treatment fluid to contact the portion of the subterranean formation. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of: a chitosan; a polyamide; a polyetheramine; a polyethyleneimine; a polyhydroxyetheramine; a polylysine; and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
       10. A method of reducing fluid loss from a perforated interval of a well bore comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a fluid loss control additive comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydrophobic modification, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises a polymer backbone that comprises polar heteroatoms, and wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises at least one hydrophobically modified polymer that comprises 
 a reaction product between a hydrophobic compound and a hydrophilic polymer wherein the hydrophobic compound is selected from the group consisting of: an anhydride of octenyl succinic acid; an ester of octenyl succinic acid, an amide of octenyl succinic acid, an anhydride of dodecenyl succinic acid, an ester of dodecenyl succinic acid, and an amide of dodecenyl succinic acid and wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises a reactive amino group in the polymer backbone or as a pendant group, the reactive amino group capable of reacting with the hydrophobic compound; and 
 introducing the treatment fluid into the perforated interval of the well bore so that the treatment fluid contacts a portion of a subterranean formation through one or more openings that extend from the perforated interval of the well bore into the subterranean formation wherein the water-soluble polymer reduces the permeability of the portion of the subterranean formation to aqueous fluids without substantially reducing the permeability to hydrocarbons so that fluid loss from the aqueous fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation is reduced. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the one or more openings extend from the well bore, through a casing that is disposed in the well bore, and into the portion of the subterranean formation. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the one or more openings are selected from the group consisting of: perforations in the casing; openings created in the casing by casing failure; openings created in the casing by casing wear; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein pressure in the interval of the well bore is overbalanced, and the treatment fluid contacts the subterranean formation so as to create one or more fractures therein. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  wherein the treatment fluid is introduced into the interval of the well bore at a pressure sufficient to at least substantially displace formation fluid from the well bore, the formation fluid having entered the well bore through the one or more perforations. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of:
 introducing an oxidizer into the interval of the well bore so as to contact the portion of the subterranean formation, subsequent to the step of introducing the treatment fluid to the perforated interval of the well bore. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10  wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of: a chitosan; a polyamide; a polyetheramine; a polyethyleneimine; a polyhydroxyetheramine; a polylysine; and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
       17. A method of reducing fluid loss from a gravel packed interval of a well bore comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a fluid loss control additive comprising a water-soluble polymer having hydrophobic modification, wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises a polymer backbone that comprises polar heteroatoms, and wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises at least one hydrophobically modified polymer comprising a reaction product of a reaction comprising a hydrophobic compound selected from the group consisting of: an anhydride of octenyl succinic acid; an ester of octenyl succinic acid, an amide of octenyl succinic acid, an anhydride of dodecenyl succinic acid, an ester of dodecenyl succinic acid, and an amide of dodecenyl succinic acid and a hydrophilic polymer; and, 
 introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a gravel pack disposed in the well bore wherein the water-soluble polymer reduces the permeability of the gravel pack to aqueous fluids without substantially reducing the permeability to hydrocarbons. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 introducing an oxidizer into the interval of the well bore so as to contact the portion of the subterranean formation, subsequent to the step of introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a gravel pack. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of: a chitosan; a polyamide; a polyetheramine; a polyethyleneimine; a polyhydroxyetheramine; a polylysine; and derivatives thereof.